Time to reimagine town centres to protect futures of high streets - The Yorkshire Post says

The decline of the retail sector in particular has sparked fears that the sound of the death knell is near for town centres, but, as Stephen Bethal at the British Retail Consortium has pointed out, that is not necessarily the case.

High streets, he said, are “more than just places with shops in them” and would remain centres of communities for people to gather. Yet time is of the essence – and innovative thinking is key – if that is to be the case.

Businesses like Masham-based Black Sheep Brewery, which shifted the focus of its operations to its online offering during the second lockdown and experienced its most successful November for online sales, have demonstrated how adapting quickly in times of challenge can reap dividends.

This forward-thinking, flexible approach is one that must now be taken with our high streets if those in Yorkshire and beyond are to remain vibrant in years to come. It is incumbent on national government to work with council leaders, local businesses, developers and community organisations to urgently re-shape town and city centre offerings.

That means ensuring that there is flexibility within the planning system to reimagine them as places for experiences. Hospitality, leisure, entertainment and culture must be at their core, as well as areas to live, work, shop and receive an education. Opportunities for regeneration must be made a priority.

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